Crossing bridge



June 19, `19.28.

P. EBELING CROSSING BRIDGE Filed July 9, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 19, 1928.

P. EBELlNG CROSSING BRIDGE r Filed July 9, 192e 4 sheets-sheet 2 June 19, 1928.v 1,674,279 'P EBELNG cRossING'BRIDGE Filed July 9, 192e 4 sheets-Sheet 5 v /s @www June` 19, 1928.

* 1,674,279 P. EBELING CROSSING BRIDGE Filed July 9 1926 4 Sheets-snee;c 4

' /faz Hrm m I 4 gn/vento@ gal [d 7g au ,ea/ Q @aux Y Patented June 19, 1928.

nire sr 'Y PAUL EBLING.- or New YORK, n. Y;

cnoss'me rIDGE.

Application aledauiy a',l laat; `seran' N6; 121,391.

rI he present inventien relates to. improvej y bridges, Vparticularly bridgesto-` be used lat street crossings, at conflagrations, etc., and V*it is' the principal object ofthe in'-y vention'to provide foldable or" collapsible bridges of this type which may readily be'` set upk and removed without the einploy. of special complicated and Vcumbersome apparatus. p

Bridges constructed according tocmy invention are particularly well adaptedfor use at street crossings and intersections where heavy tratlie prevails during part of the day, they may just as well also bey used atrailroad crossings or the like; They allow a safe. passage of Ypedestrians at the hours of the heaviest traffic andv may readily be folded and set aside without' obstruction forthe traffic and the view. l

ments i Another object of the invention is the provision'of foldable or collapsible bridge inembers at street crossings or the like allowing 'even the transfer of vehicles when required, and' ladapted to be usedin any required nurnber doing away with stairs, etc., as theyl can be set up at any desired angle tothe streets. A further object' of iny invention is lthe provision of al" foldable or .collapsible bridge composed'of a plurality of members according to occasion and necessity, conveniently be used to facilitate the escape of persons during a conflagration fro-m a burning building, etc., into thestreet or into buildings across ,the street. A still further object of the invention'is the provision of a foldable or collapsible bridge having vertical posts 4allowing the yconvenient display of advertisingsigns and matter, as well as serving as lamp posts, flag posts or posts for holding decorations of any kindvduring parades 'and festivals.

It is furthermore one ofthe objects of my invention to provide a foldable and collapsible bridge, the roadway ofy which, While strongly constructed tocarry a great number of pedestrians and other loads, can readily be folded or wound upon or from suitable rollers or other means in order to avoid obstruction of the view when the bridge is not in use.

The mechanism for effecting the folding and unfolding of the roadway can be readily which mayl operated and may either befcombinedcwith the bridge or may be arranged in` suitable pits* below the street level. v

The" foldable bridges according; .to myfinvention are equipped with folda-ble hand rails-or b alusters,I and suitable supports `forl the roadways when in operation, while easily detachable cables lensure stability. Theyr may be set upv in va plurality of .members elther across a street,'.permitting. the traffic to pass throughthe lower partsy thereon'for: they may have Walls allowing afplacing of thev bridge when not inluse againsthouse: walls, etc., without obstruction oftheview from thev windows thereof." They: may have a central post from' which the bridgemembers extend to both sidesandheld by suitable cables, or they mayube counterbalanced by suitable weights, etc. A These and other objects and advantages of my invention will becomeomore Afully known as the description thereof proceeds,` and' will `then be. specilically`4 pointed out in the appended claims.v

In the accompanying 4drawings forming 'a material part'of this disclosure;

1 is a side elevation'of abridge ele# ment constructed accordingI to y.my i-nVen# tion.

Fig. 2 is top plan viewthere'of;

Fig. 3' is a section on line 3-3of Figure: l.

Fig". 4L- is a side elevation `f a modified form of a bridge element constructed ac-r cording to my invention.`

g: `5 is a sectiononlinelofFigure 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view seen in the direction of the'arrowed line 6;-6 of Figure/i.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of another inodiiied'fo-rm of my invention. v A Fig; 8 is atop planview thereof', seen'in the direction of the arrows 8-'-8 of Figure 7;

Fig. 9 is an end direction of line=99 ofFigure 7. Fig. lOvis a sideselevation of a still 1further modilication of my invention.

Fig-1l is a top planview thereof'. In ythe form of-my inventionl illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3, thebrid'ge-element comprises a base 410, carryinglugs 11 securely attach-ed theretd and forming the base or place of attachment for the lower viewthereof seenl in the ends or feet of vertical,fparallel 'posts 12,

pairwise arranged in spaced relation and additionally secured to the base by means of angle irons or brackets 13, or the. like.

Intermediate their ends, at a suitable height from the street level, horizontally and pairwise arranged spaced and parallel girders 14 or the like are pivoted intermediate their ends to the posts .12, as at 15, and links 16 pivoted at one` end, as at 17, to the side girders14, and at their opposite ends tolugs 18 on the edges of posts 12,-connect the latter with the girders.

The horizontal girders can be set at any desiredangle or inclination to the posts and held therein, to allow the stepping of pedestrians thereon without the necessity of employing supplementary stairs etc., and as many sets of bridge elements` as required may beused in order to ensure safe passage across a street etc. It will be clear that the end sections or units of the bridge elements will be in tilted pcsition so that pedestrians may conveniently step thereon or oif. In

some exceptional cases where local condie tions require this, the end sections are used in their horizontal position and access to the same is provided by means of suitable stairlways etc.

At one end the sets of bridge elements are provided with cross-bars 19 to which the vertical supports 20y are pivotally secured, the lower ends of which are detachably attached by means of pins 21 or the like to suitablel lugs 22 or the like on the base l0.

' The parallel girders 14 are spaced apart and connected by means of suitable brackets at suitable intervals to the pins 24 to which one end of cables 25 is attached, said cables being guided over rollers 26 or the like at the upper ends of'posts 12, and have their other ends detachably secured to suitable eyes 26 or Lthe like on the base 10.

Other, holding cables 27 are attached at one end to pins at the ends of the girders f 14, while their opposite ends are fastened to suitable means on posts 12.

The cables 28 are attached at one of their ends to eyes on the opposite side of the posts 12, and at their other ends to eyes 29 on the girders 14.

Balusters or hand rails 30 are removably held in the upper ends of vertical rail posts 31 arranged in suitable numbers and ini tervals, and removably attached at ,their lower ends to brackets 32 on girders 14. yThe roadway 33 proper for the pedestrians etc. is preferably made of metal or other strong material, and is ofthe roller type, composed of a plurality of interconnected slats 33 or the like, adapted to 'be wound upon'or from roller 34 journalled at l the ends of the girders 14.

This roadway 33 is unwound from and wound upon the roller by means of cables 35 orthe like, wound upon or from a roller 36 also journalled with its ends in the girders 14 and having a crank 37 secured thereto'at the outer end projecting beyond the girders.

A plurality of guide rollers 38 guide the slats of the roadway, the outer ends of which on the sides thereof are preferably guided within suitable grooves in the inner opposite side faces of the girders 14 or along strips lattached thereto, while a longitudinal strip 39 guides and supports the roadway in the "center thereof. Inthe modified form of my inventionl illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, each bridge element has a vertical wall 40 adapted to be placed against a house wall etc. and secured at its lower end to a base-plate or frame 41 against which it is braced by ya bracket or brackets 42 or thel like. y i ',Ihe roadway in thisfform of my invention consists'also of a plurality of horizontal, parallel and spaced side girders 43 pivotally attached at one end to suitable brackets 44 on the vertical wall 40, and braced against the same by means of links 45 or the like, pivotally attached at one end to the girders, and at their opposite ends to suitable ears 46 on wall 40. n

Cables 47 secured at one end to the eyes48 on wall 40 and at their opposite endsto the tached to suitable pins on girders 43, are

guided over rollers 51 near the upper endof wall 40 and behind guides-52 to rollers or pulleys 53, the shafts 54 of which extend over the pulleys at one side and carry a l crank 55,01; the like.

vRail 4posts 56 are pivotally attached at their lower ends tothe girders 43 and, carry at their upper ends removably, the balusters The roadway proper or walk for thelpedestrians etc. consists in this form'of my `invention also of a plurality of interconnected parallel cross-slats 58 adapted to be rolled upon or from a roller 59 journaled in brackets `44 andl adaptedalso to be operated from cablesv60 at theend of the roadway and wound about a roller 61 on fa shaft ournaled between girders 43 and extending at oneend beyond the ,same to carry a crank arm 62.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, thev vertical. bridge posts 63 have their lower ends supported in blocks 64 on a base 65, above a pit formed by U-po-sts 67, 68 supported on a ground plate 69, and designated 66. I

The bridge members 70, 71, have their in-k Lei/Lara ber 71, so that it can be folded against'the same. outer end, pivotally attached thereto, asV at 7 5,a footvpost 76, the lower end of which is detachably secured to a suitable bracket 77 on thegroun'd.A

Cables 78 are attached at one end to member and guided over rollers 79 at the post 63 and their other ends are attached, as at 80 to member 71. Other cables 81 have their outer ends secured to eyes von member 71 and are guided over pulleys 82 at the cross-head 83 on the upper end of post 63 on one side thereof. The other side of the post can be utilized for the suspension of street lamps 84- or the like or for the support of signs of any suitable form, illuminated or not for advertising purposes or the like, as indicated at 85.

` IThe free end of cable 81 is guided through guide loops 86 or the like to a roller 87 having its shaft extended to the outside', and carries an operating crank 88.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the roadway for pedestrians etc. is composed of an endless band 89 of any strong material suitbale for the purpose or the like, which is suitably and safely guided to support certain loads, and to the outer ends of which cables 90 are attached, adapted to be Wound about a roller 91 supported in the posts 66 in suitable brackets 92 and the roller shaft is extended towards one side and carries a crank arm 93. The endless band is guided over suitable guide rollers and its center is supported by a longitudinal band or the like 94:.Y v

In the modified form of my bridge members, illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the vertical posts 95 are secured to a base 96 by means of brackets 97 or the like, and the horizontal girders 98 are held in their position by means of cables 99 secured at one end to the girders 98 as at 100, they are guided over pulleys 101 on top of posts 95, and carry at their ends weights 102. Aframe 103 carrying at its rear end a weight 104 is attached to the girders 98, as at 105, which are spaced at this place to accommodate the frame. The roadway in thisy construction can be made in the same manner asdescribed above with the other forms of my invention, and also be provided with hand rails etc. which may be folded or collapsed respectively in the above described manner.

The operation of my improved collapsible road-crossing bridge elements will be readily understood from the above description by inspection of the drawings, and it will be seen that when necessity arises a number of these elements may be combined to bridge a crossing without impeding the regular traiic thereunder and without obstructing the view of trafHc oliicers or drivers. The bridge can be set up and rerlhe 'other member v70 has near itsl use of additionalv machinery, and` placed atV any suitable angle to the street .so'that trians canl easily climb the roadway ari/d',

pass the streetcrossings in safety. .When not inuse,the bridge elements can `quickly be collapsed and in case of lire a safe passage from a burning building to'thestreet or opposite building may be provided.

It will be understood, that while I have disclosed as an example some ofk the many forms of constructing my collapsible bridges, many changes such as lcome within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the general arrangement and in the construction of the minor details ofl my bridge'elements without departure from the spirit of the invention and the principles involved.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Bridge elem-ents for street crossings,

each comprising spaced vertical posts and a roadway, means pivoted between said posts to carry a roadway, means for holding the parts in their position to form a bridge and allowing a folding of the same when not in use, and a means for folding the roadway, i

said elements so arranged as to avoid obstruction of the view. l

2. Bridge elements for road' crossings, each comprising a base, a pair of spaced vertical posts on said base, a'pair of spacedhorzontal girders pivotally secured lbetween said posts, means for supporting the free ends of said girders when said elements form a bridge, a baluster on said girders, a means for holding the parts in their operative position as a bridge and` allowing .a folding ofthe same, and a foldable roadway for said bridge.

3. Bridge elements for stre-et crossings,

each comprising a roadway, a pair of' vertical posts, horizontal girders forming the roadway support pivotally secured between said girders, a foldable baluster on said girders, said roadway composed of a plurality of interconnected slats guided within lateral grooves in said girders, a roller, and a means for folding said roadway upon said roller and unfolding it therefrom.

4C. Bridge elem-ents for street crossings,.

each comprising a pair of vertical posts arranged in spaced relation, a base to which said posts are attached, means for bracing said posts, a pair of horizontally disposed, spaced girders pivotally arranged between said posts, a foldable baluster on said girders, cables attached to said base and to said posts for holding the bridgev elements in their bridge forming position4 and allowing a collapsing of the same when not in use, said girders provided with oppositely disposed inner grooves, a roadway composed of a plurality of interconnected slats traveland adapted to be wound upon said cable ing and supported with their sideedges in roller and to be: unwound therefrom, anda said grooves of the girders, ya roller, on crank for operating lsaid cable roller. 10 which said roadway can be lwound and un- Signed at New York in the county of New Wound therefrom,a pair of cables, avroller York and State of New York this 8th day for said cables said' Cables attached at one of July, A. 11,1926. v of their ends tothe end `Slat of said roadway n PAUL EBELING. l 

